12 Must-Have Healthy Cookbooks

While Pinterest will obviously always have a place in our hearts and kitchens (by the way, you should be following Hello Glow on Pinterest!), there’s just something satisfying about old-fashioned cookbooks. Whether you skim them from time to time, or you tend to read them cover to cover, having healthy cookbooks in your collection is one of the easiest ways to make meal planning easy—and even kind of fun. Plus, they’re so pretty! Here are 12 that we recommend adding to your bookshelf, stat:

12 Best Healthy Eating Cookbooks

If you’re looking to shift toward a plant-based diet, Oh She Glows is a great place to start. And Angela’s book is, too! Not only are the recipes beautifully photographed, they’re mainly gluten- and soy-free, and plant-based without relying on faux meats or cheeses. Must-try recipes: Thai Peanut Empowered Noodle Bowl, Lentil-Walnut Loaf.

Isa is pretty much the queen of vegan recipes, so it’s no surprise that this book is fantastic. Especially if you’re dairy-free or vegan and miss savory comfort foods, this is a great one to work your way through. Just about every recipe is a winner! Must-try recipes: White Wine Risotto with Peas and Shiitake Bacon, Chimichurri Pumpkin Bowl.

Love vegan staples like nut milks and faux cheeses? Bypass all the additives and preservatives in store-bought versions by making your own! This super helpful guide will help you save money—and control what’s in your food—by showing you how to make staples such as cashew cream, pasta sauce, jam, mustard and more. Must-try recipes: Flax Seed Meringue, Almond “Feta.”

Bought a spiralizer and now have no clue what to do with it? Ali of Inspiralized has your back. You’ll be creating oodles of zoodles (and noodles made from just about any veggie) to make healthy meals every day of the week. Must-try recipes: Collard Hummus Wraps with Golden Beets and Sprouts, Zucchini Pesto Spaghetti.

If you’re anything like me, making Indian food at home sounds pretty intimidating to you. But eating out isn’t always the healthiest option. Richa (who runs the Vegan Richa blog) breaks it down to the basics—including a detailed shopping guide—and will have you crafting better-for-you Indian food in your own kitchen in no time. Must-try recipes: Mango Curry Tofu, Gluten-Free Chia Flatbreads.

Big Bowl of Love isn’t a “healthy” cookbook per se, but the recipes are so fresh and simple that many are inherently healthy. Best of all, they’re so easy. There’s probably not a recipe in here with more than 10 ingredients, and veggies and healthy fats feature prominently! I’ve adapted many of the recipes to be dairy-free and have had good luck. Must-try recipes: Pozole, Short Ribs with Creamy Polenta.

Whether or not you’ve decided to go completely paleo, there’s no doubt that most of us are trying to minimize carbs and processed foods. Nom Nom Paleo is a great entry into simple, paleo cooking that isn’t all pork belly and guacamole. There’s a helpful guide to stocking your pantry, and plenty of “building block” recipes (like ghee, macadamia nut “ricotta” and paleo Sriracha) that ensure you won’t spend the rest of your life reading labels. And yes, like many Paleo cookbooks, there’s a lot of bacon and eggs. But there are also a ton of veggies! Must-try recipes: Spicy Coconut Shrimp, Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs.

This book has basically been my food bible since I gave up gluten and most dairy products, and generally started eating healthier. Megan is the brains behind the Detoxinista blog, and her recipes are amazing in that they really do taste like “normal” food, but they’re full of nutritious, detox-friendly ingredients. Must-try recipes: Almond Butter Freezer Fudge, Zucchini Lasagna.

Snacking does not always have to mean chips and dip—but when it does, it can be kale chips and cauliflower ranch. Julie’s snack-centric cookbook is full of nutritious versions of your favorite junk foods, as well as new snacking ideas using superfoods like goji berries and hemp seed. Must-try recipes: Coconut Curried Kale Chips, Pumpkin Cheesecake Squares.

Mollie is also the author of Moosewood Cookbook and Still Life with Menu, but Enchanted Broccoli Forest is my favorite of all her books. (It was given to me by my ex-boyfriend’s mom, who is a chef, and I trust her judgement!) The original came out in 1982, but a second edition was released in 2000. (You can still buy the first edition but it’s pretty expensive.) Mollie’s veggie-heavy cookbooks are a must-own for any vegetarian or vegan home cook, or even those who just cook that way occasionally. Each recipe is hand-lettered by Mollie, and they read informally—like notes from a friend. Must-try recipes: Sweet Potato Pie with Poppy Seed-Cheddar Crust, Enchanted Broccoli Forest (it’s a casserole).

This book is a little dated (it came out in 2001), but it was way ahead of its time. I picked it up at a used bookstore about 10 years ago and have cooked my way through it more than once. Seriously, every page is dog-eared, and there are at least 5 or 6 recipes in it that have become staples in my kitchen! There’s a great selection of meat and veggie recipes, different courses and cuisines. It includes a helpful foreword on nutrition, and each recipe denotes the health benefits of the ingredients. If you want a great beginner’s guide to healthy recipes, this is it. And it’s only 39 cents on Amazon—a hidden gem! Must-try recipes: Vegetable Polenta Lasagna; Kale, Lentil and Chicken Soup.

I love my Moosewood Cookbook, so I was very happy to see Mollie Katzen on your list of must-have cookbooks! I might have to try the Enchanted Broccoli Forest — I don’t have that one. My absolute favorite cookbook, though, is Simply in Season by Cathleen Hockman-Wert and Mary Beth Lind. Since the focus is on local, in-season ingredients, the recipes tend to be very healthy, and the ingredients very easy to find!

Neat list! I never buy or even use cookbooks anymore because there are so many recipes on the internet now. I think I will check out that Enchanted Broccoli Forest one though. Even as a vegetarian, I find it hard to find veggie-heavy recipes. Thanks for the recommendations.